SurvivingInfidelity.com Forum Archives

So I have seen a number of posts where fellow SI members encourage "younger" SI posters to do things based on their "younger" age....namely to "cut and run because you are young and have your whole life ahead of you".

I don't know what the magic age is that you decide you deserve LESS from your life and relationships....but there seems to be a figure in some peoples minds. A point in time when you throw in the towel on having a "fully meaningful relationship" with your spouse and "settle for a less meaningful relationship" with your spouse.

My question is this.....does the age of the BS factor into whether to offer R or not?

Is a 70 year old BS offering R using the fact that they have less years to invest in a better relationship with a new spouse making a healthy choice?

Is a 30 year old BS refusing to offer R based on the fact that they have more years to invest in a better relationship outside of their current M making ahealthy choice?

In my own relationship...while I was just engaged to my wife....my wife had a relationship with a previous male friend that I was not aware of....intimate emails were exchanged. He was 15 years older than her and a known player....but the fact is she was choosing to engage him and keep it a secret from me.

At that point in time I would advise blakesteele to, at the very least, postpone the M and seek good pre-M counsel. At that time blakesteele would most likely NOT have changed his ways...but my advice would be very different to him then it is to the 42 year old blakesteele.....so I get THIS part of the "age difference" advice. But I submit this is more of a factor of "level of committment" then it is age. Blakesteele then was just engaged....had not vowed yet. To me, this would be related to level of committment moreso than age.

If what happened before we were married happened....say 3 years into our M...I would NOT advise to cut and run....I would advise to do what we are doing. Provided the facts THEN are what they are NOW. KWIM?

But I almost get a sense from some SI members who have offered R that, if they were younger they would NOT offer R.

Just my take on these posts of late.....open to being off target.

Am I niave to feel that, at age 42, I have the same chance of having a "fully meaningful relationship" with my wife as I did at age 32 had we done the work we needed to do back then.... instead of 10 years later? At 29, at 27 when I got married?

Kind of a nothing post....because my age or the age of my wife is simply not a factor to my decision to R....but am curious what the basis for advising other SI members on what to do is using age as such a talking point.

But I almost get a sense from some SI members that if they were younger they would NOT offer R.

If I had no kids and could leave the M and start fresh, I probably would have. No question in my mind. I could find someone else and start a family with them. Yes I would still have the memory of being betrayed, but I would still deal with that much in the same way I am dealing now.

The only reason my W got another chance, at first, was because we had kids together. I also found out how much money it would cost me and how much money I would have to pay her. I am a pragmatist. A small part of me longed for the woman I married, but in reality the "one true love," fantasy is just that. A fantasy over sold to us is popular media consumed by a population hungry to buy into monetized dogma.

Having kids means that you do what is right for them even though it may not be correct for you.

I know everybody's going to jump all over me and channel Dr. Phil, but my responsibilities to my children are utmost in my life. I want to give them the childhood I never had. It is what is most important to me. So I gave my W a second chance. At first for my kids, later because I wanted to.

Look, I could take a job that I would really love that made half of the money I do now. It would be right for me, but it would subject my family to much harder life than we have now. Therefore I work hard at job I can only tolerate most days because that is what adults do. We realize the decisions we make effect not only us, but those closest to us. We weigh our responsibilities and determine what is most important to us.

I have seen this advise as well, and paid particular attention, as I am 63, and in this relationship for 22 years. My age has little to do, personally, with whether or not I will remain in this relationship, which has been torn asunder by infidelity. I might think though, if you've got 25+ years invested in a marriage, and presumably have accumulated a heap of good memories that in balance, outweigh the horridness of the affair, then one might think that R is worth the effort. On the other hand, if your marriage is newer, and there are no children, there has probably been less investment of heart and soul.... I was thinking that these seemed to be the cases where the advise of some have been 'cut and run'........cause it really truly is a ton of work.

I, too, hung out for a while for many of the reasons you listed....but age was not one of them....never was, not then, not now.

I totally get your committment to your children....but also submit a great big piece of that "sheparding" is to demonstrate what committment is and what a healthy relationship is between a husband and a wife.

That is a primary motivator within me. The fact that our girls have had a Daddy-Mommy family for an additional 18 months post DD is good....but I don't have much desire to demonstrate to my girls that you just endure a M because you have to. I really want to demonstrate that, even when things are really really tough, two healthy adults CAN grow through those "things" to a higher level.

Lofty goal? You bet. Doable? Yes. Easier to find a girl half my age who strokes my ego and avoid self-growth....maybe get a solid 10 year run out of that "fun" relationship? Absolutely. But what would that demonstrate to my girls? What type of man would they seek out? Would they also enter into M with a "deficit planning" mentality?

Take children out of this equation.....so no child support and no emotional stress over what my choices were going to do to children.

If I D upon my DD....I personally dont think I would have had the motivation to do anything that didnt feel GREAT to me. And self growth, while rewarding, does not feel GREAT at times.

So I struggle with this counter-viewpoint.

I get what you are saying numb&dumb....will re-read your post to understand it better.

I spent most of my life in this marriage. I thought I was an equal partner financially, emotionally, etc. Of course I lived in a state of denial, unaware of his acting out. But by then I was over 50, financially entangled, emotionally damaged, cheated out of sex for most of my life, physically affected by the stress and facing a future where my choices were to stick around and try to R or leave and give up my home, half my savings/income, the dream of having a partner with whom to travel, with whom to enjoy grandchildren, retirement, etc. I had already given up SO MUCH for his hobbies, I sure as hell didn't want to give up any more.

The reality is, women my age, now 59, DON'T often find a new partner. If I had found out about his true life when I was in my 30s I may have still tried to R but I wouldn't have the same fears. I'd have my whole life to plan my finances differently, my youth, self confidence and health with which to try to think about a new Relationship.

Yes, I think age surely played into my decisions. I felt stuck. However, if he cheats again, he's gone....

After seeing a news story that a couple in their 90's met and fell in love at their assisted living senior center, I realized that it's NEVER too late!

Just like when I win the lottery when I'm 70, people will probably complain that I'm too old to enjoy it... well, I'll just show THEM how I'll enjoy it, ha!

BS(me)-52
WH-59
OW-43(married ex-Co-worker)
Married 6 yrs
DD#1: 3/19/10
DD#2: 5/11/10
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.

Posts: 967 | Registered: Aug 2010 | From: Arizona

Ascendant♂ 38303Member # 38303

Posted: 5:07 PM, January 31st (Friday), 2014

I know that for me, it wasn't really my age at the time of DDAY, which was 29. For me, it was really the child factor. My son was 5 when it happened...and I don't know of any good way to explain the situation to a 5-year old. If my son was 10 or 11 or 12, and maybe could've begun to approach something resembling understanding of the who ordeal, I may have left. I did not want OM anywhere near my son....and he would have been. He wanted to take my place. That was probably the biggest factor, initially. I can almost guarantee that my wife would have gone to 'be' with OM, despite her assurances that it wouldn't have happened.

Posts: 2861 | Registered: Jan 2013 | From: #WindyCity

Bobbi_sue♀ 10347Member # 10347

Posted: 5:14 PM, January 31st (Friday), 2014

I really don't advise or encourage anybody to do anything. I do agree with you on the point that everybody should look at their own situation and decide what is important to them, regardless of outside opinions.

Instead of advising, though, I do often state my own stance and sometimes share what I did do, and what I might have done in a different set of circumstances. As for me, personally, if the WS cheated while we were dating, not yet married, and I found out, I am certain I would cut my losses and run and NOT marry that person.

Now as for my own real life story, my XH cheated on me very early in our M when we were both quite young, but we had a one year old child by the time he confessed this to me. He seemed to express remorse, and I did stay with him, thinking it best for our DD. So for me, having a child or children together was a big factor in staying and trying.

After learning my XH had cheated on me all through our M, for many years I did not know it was going on, yes, my mindset changed, even hardened and so even though I try to be understanding to all newbies, my perspective is going to be influenced by my experience and I'm quite sure I come off as a tough love type to both BS and WS. But it is all relative, I guess I was still young when I divorced him even though we had three kids by then. I was 32 when we split. But I gave him more than enough chances and was not going to waste more of my young life like that.

My current H cheated when I was in my late 40's. We had no children together and our kids were grown and gone by that time anyway. We reconciled but it had little to do with age, really. For me, it had to do mostly with his level of remorse and my willingness to forgive him. I also don't regret giving him that chance. He has been a much better H for the past 7 years than he was for the first 11 years of our M.

Posts: 5899 | Registered: Apr 2006

Matisse38338Member # 38338

Posted: 5:15 PM, January 31st (Friday), 2014

I think for women, age is consideration. A 30 year old woman if she divorces, has time to build a career, go back to school if she's been out of the work force for a while or if she needs additional education for the career she wants to pursue. Divorce often means a temporary financial loss, but one she can recoup.

A 60 year old woman may have been a SAHM for part or all of her marriage or may have given up opportunities or not have aggressively pursued opportunities in her career because of her children or her husband's career. At 60, she can't make up the financial loss of putting family before career. Penalizing herself financially with a divorce may not be her best option. Especially if she factors in his health and potential lifespan.

At least for women, I think age is a consideration when deciding whether to maintain the marriage.

Posts: 96 | Registered: Feb 2013

AppalachianGal♀ 31672Member # 31672

Posted: 5:16 PM, January 31st (Friday), 2014

Just today I was thinking that had I found out about OW#1, the ONS in 1993, when I was 21 and had just birthed our first child, I would have moved on so fast. No way I would have stayed. None. I was trying to go to college and had the world at my feet. I would have taken his ONS as a challenge and turned it around for the good of me and my baby. Now? I'm 41. I've given this man my youth, my looks, my body, my soul, everything. I'm 30 lbs overweight (not obese but still), graying hair, I'm looking haggard thanks to the STRESS of this marriage. What is out there at my age? Twenty-somethings looking to have sex with a "mature" woman or 40-somethings that are divorced with baggage and "issues" being the reasons why they haven't found their other halves. No thanks. That baby from 1993 is almost 21. He is going to school to be a doctor. He will marry someday and give me grandkids. So will his brother and sister. Life looks a lot different at 41 than it did at 21. Sometimes, though, that's not a good thing. I want to travel. I want to spoil grandkids. The jerk I'm married to was always the one I wanted to spend forever with. At 41, forever seems a lot shorter than it used to.

I have 33 years of marriage only about 4 of which were scarred by infidelity. I'm not willing to give up the life we have built together as long as there is no more infidelity. If my fWH ever cheats again we will D.

But if I were in my early 40s I might have viewed this differently as my options and life were different then.

My personal belief is that in 20s thru 40s age range, BS should evaluate the probability of the cheating to occur again. And all bets are off serial cheating is involved. Libido is stronger in those years so cheating risks may be greater as well?

I will only speak on my case. When I found out about FWH ONS and EA I was a month shy from turning 50. I have been with this man since I was 23. I worked at crap jobs and don't have an advanced education. I followed him around for his career in the Army for well over 20 years. To start over at my age, and give up the standard of living that I am used to was and is frightening. Age certainly played into the decision to R with him. If this happened when I was 20 something or even in my 30's my decision could have well been different.

Me: BS
Him: WS
Married since 1985
Parents to 2 adult sons and 3 of the cutest cats you have ever seen
D-day 8/6/11 Truth about ONS and 9/21/11 Truth about EA
Trying to reconcile

Posts: 1697 | Registered: Dec 2011 | From: midwest now.

so_lost♀ 7726Member # 7726

Posted: 5:43 PM, January 31st (Friday), 2014

I was 27 on dday. Only married 2 years, no kids. I stayed for a number of reasons. I loved my H. He was immediately remorseful. I didn't want to start over and risk missing out on my child bearing years . I didn't see myself divorced. I didn't want to throw away my future with him. I don't quit anything even if I should.

Most of my marriage will have this heartache in it. Recently I questioned if I had made the right decision in staying. I had no idea recovery would take so long or be so difficult. I had no idea it would be so hard to trust and love him again. Now we have two kids and the kids definitely influence my decision to keep trying now.

I am a firm believer you never know how you're going to react to any given situation until you're in it...regardless of age.

[This message edited by so_lost at 6:01 PM, January 31st (Friday)]

D-day April 2005, R.
Me-BS 37
Him-FWH 37, 8 month EA/PA with coworker. Married 2 yrs at the time.
2 kiddos after D-day, Married 11 years.

Posts: 262 | Registered: Jul 2005

pearlharbr♀ 38072Member # 38072

Posted: 5:51 PM, January 31st (Friday), 2014

As someone who was "younger" at DDay (just before my 35th birthday) I was really bothered by people on another message board telling me that I should just move on because of my age, the fact that we didn't have kids, and the fact that we weren't married. I understand how those things made my situation look easy to outsiders but for me, the level of commitment was there: we had been together for eight years, lived together for seven, and had talked and planned for the long-term future together.

I did kick him out and decided that I would move on. When the fog started to lift for him and he asked for another chance he cited our years together as a reason to try R. I debated it for a couple months and ended up agreeing to give him a chance because I wanted to know that I did all I could before walking away. That was important for me because I often give up on things that are too difficult and I didn't want to add my relationship to that list. But I also knew that if I didn't feel like he was doing whatever he could I would move forward on my own.

Having kids means that you do what is right for them even though it may not be correct for you.

.

Nailed it. If he was a douche I would leave because that is what would be best for my kids. He's not though. He's more devoted to them and us than ever. It would destroy my kids to see their dad every other weekend. To put them through a divorce, is dating, step parents etc. no way. The level of love I feel for him is secondary to my responsibility to them. We aren't promised an easy life I guess. As long as it's a healthy home for them, it's good enough for me.

I honestly think I would have an easier time leaving if I was older and kid were out of the house. Seriously, I'd be all over the singles 50 cruises, etc

I think in reading here the only ones I think they should cut and run the majority of the time are the unmarried young couples. Their lives are just not entangled enough to me to justify the pain. While I was in love with my husband when we were dating, it is nothing compared to the way I felt after 12 years, 5 kids and a life enmeshed. That new shallow love isn't worth this pain to me.

'You just keep living, until you are alive again'
'I don't want perfect, I want honest'

Posts: 343 | Registered: May 2013

Melian40♀ 41205Member # 41205

Posted: 6:43 PM, January 31st (Friday), 2014

I think kids is a huge factor, not age.
First,a D has a big inpact on children.
Second, when you have non-adult kids you will have to deal with WS either you R or D. If you are the BH in the marriage it's even worse because you will miss the kids and have to deal with WW.
If you don't have kids it's easier because you cut the WS loose and never see him/her again. You can heal and forget easier IMO.

BW-me:40
BH-him:41
DD-age 9
Together 7 years, married 17 years
DD1:8/12/2013 -OW1-PA 1.5 months in 2009
DD2:8/17/2013 - OW2-EA Spring 2013- He tried to hit on her but she denied.

"You can't fix a broken man, but he can break you"

Posts: 249 | Registered: Nov 2013

pearlharbr♀ 38072Member # 38072

Posted: 6:54 PM, January 31st (Friday), 2014

If you don't have kids it's easier because you cut the WS loose and never see him/her again.

In regards to not having to see the WS, yes, but not having kids didn't make it easier for me. I do not want children. Being single in my late 30s would have meant a dating pool full of men wanting to start a family or divorced men who already have children. Finding another childfree partner gets harder as you get older and I did think about that when deciding whether or not to stay with my WSO.

Not age or kids for me. I felt a lot of 'push' from people to cut and run after my very first post here. I am relatively young - early 30's. We were not married when he cheated. We had one kid together and another on the way when I found out. I knew going into this relationship that if it didn't work out I could support myself and whoever else came along. I had divorced once already and know how to navigate co-parenting and the horror of your child gaining a step-family. None of that influenced me to stay - or leave. I looked at who I was and what he was showing me in that first 24 hours. I saw a man who was deeply hurt by his actions and how those actions affected me. I saw a man who was tough and distant soften and draw near. I saw a man who agreed to every tiny, even ridiculous, condition I set. I saw a man who stood up to OW5 and say 'enough! No, we cannot be friends - ever' without me having to tell him to. I saw me and knew that I would forever wonder 'what if' if I walked away. I knew my faith called me to forgiveness (though I didn't get there for almost a year). I knew I believed in giving everyone a second chance and wouldn't be at peace with myself if I didn't offer the same to the man I loved. Never once did I think of leaving because we weren't married yet and it would be easier. Never once did I think I should stay only for the kids.

Posts: 1292 | Registered: Jan 2013

numb&dumb♂ 28542Member # 28542

Posted: 12:05 AM, February 1st (Saturday), 2014

Why I stay now is that my W took advantage of that second chance and has worked very hard to rebuild herself and our M. It isn't perfect, but I don't feel like it is a lost cause anymore.

I am not saying I would endure a M with children with an unremorseful WW. That doesn't do the kids any favors either.

Each one of our situations are different and lots of factors play into why we stay or why we D. Those reasons can change over time. That is what happens when you allow growth and change individually and in our Ms. If you get to a place that is a happy fulfilling life, does the reason you took that chance really matter ?

Staying for my kids isn't something I regret. I am proud of that. Luckily the time that I decided "not to D right away," was time my W used to show me that she could change and we could have a really great life together again. After awhile, I realized I wasn't staying just for the kids anymore. It was more about my M and what I believed it could be. My entire family will benefit from that.

Sometimes a BS needs a reason to stay and try. Mine was my kids. At the time, it was the only thing in my life that I loved enough to protect from further damage.

Without a depth of that shared history and other enduring responsibilities, the practicality of risking further hurt is questionable at best. The real goal is to be happy with your life again for most of the years you have left. If recovering from infidelity is going to take longer than that shared history and thus take up the lions share of the memories of that M, is it worth it ? For me, it wouldn't be. You can forgive, but you never forget.

Age makes no difference to me. I'm young and I'm trying R. A big reason for that is my kids, actually at the moment most of it is. Now understand I say that but also know in my heart I love my WH very much and do have faith that someday and soon I hope I will wake up and realize I'm also trying because of him. I truly believe no matter your age you can find a meaningful relationship, even if you only have a few years left to put in it. Every person deserves the best chance at a great life it just depends on what's a complete deal breaker and what's not. I would only ever tell someone to leave if they knew they could never cope. Or if they were married to someone that showed no effort to help put them back together after what they did to break you.